The Only Way, Truth, and Life (John 14:1-4)

Good morning. Peter, one of the pastors here. Welcome to Garden City. 

As we get started this morning, let me ask you – Remember – Little Kids – FDOS – How many of you were scared when you were being dropped off. Cried/Screamed. Me? – I was fine. Grace – Cried like a baby everyday.

Parents (good and loving parents) – Don’t worry! I love you! I’m coming back. I won’t leave you here forever. (Or if the kid was bad in the morning, you’d be tempted to say – This is it. You’re staying here forever. Has anyone ever done that before? Some of you have at least thought it in your heads. Be honest. Hopefully, not before you dropped them off for Kids Ministry.) 

Yes, it may be bad news that you’re going to be gone for a while, but you reassure your kids of your love for them, that they’re going to be ok, and you promise to come back for them so you can be together again. And that’s what…

Jesus is doing in Jn. 14… Bibles. Screen.

John 14 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

You ever notice, when someone tells you not to worry, there’s usually a lot of reasons to be worried? Kids/Spouse/Friend/Coworker – Hey, don’t worry – What’s the first thing you do? Uh Oh. You worry. “Everything’s ok, BUT” – And what follows the “but” you hear a lot more loudly and you forget the “everything’s ok” part. 

Jesus – Don’t be troubled that all these bad things – betrayal, denial, suffering, death – are about to happen and he’s leaving. Have to imagine – pretty hard for the disciples. Their world was about to be thrown into chaos. How awesome would it have been to go around with Jesus? Hungry? Boom, steak/roti. Thirsty? 100Plus. Sick? He heals you. Who’s going to do all that if Jesus is dead/gone? It doesn’t seem like that’s a good thing at all!

Many, if not all of us can relate – Jesus, what do you mean – Don’t be troubled. But there’s lots to be troubled about! It seems like nations are constantly at war, I don’t know if my kids are going to be ok, I don’t know if I’m going to have enough resources to cover the essentials for living. My marriage is falling apart. I feel alone and I have no friends. My life is so hard right now – there’s more going wrong than right – and there doesn’t seem to be an end in sight. I’m exhausted and I don’t know if I’m going to make it. Seems – You’re not here to do anything about it.

The solution? Jesus – Believe in God. – The solution to all our hearts when troubled. – Believe. That God is greater, that he is able to make a way when there seems to be no way, that he is more powerful than the troubles we face, that he keeps all his promises, and that he is loving and faithful to us without fail. And he gives us this hope to cling to – 

Don’t worry. I’ll be back. I’m leaving – so that we can be together again. 

“Where I am, you may be also.” – That is the very definition of heaven. Just being in God’s presence. If he’s there, everything’s ok. Ex: Inheritance. Lose your job. Car breaks down. Rain – KL. Slip. Sprain. – Are you hating life? – Not that those things aren’t bad. On any other day – that would ruin your whole day/year. But not today. Those things are like nothing because you know what’s waiting for you. You’re still leaping with joy all the way to the bank. Your hope and your joy are not shaken by your circumstances because there’s something greater in view.

Father’s House -“Many rooms” – Versailles Palace – How many people could you fit here? In the actual house and all the outdoor space? And if this was your house and you didn’t have people there all the time, what in the world would you do with all that space? The point is, there’s room enough for everyone. Scope of salvation – for all peoples. For you and me and all who believe. Invites us to his house.

He has to go ahead to prepare for us – Heb. 6:19 – 19 We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, 20 where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf. Prodromos – Someone who goes ahead to secure a place for us (reservation), to blaze the trail so we could follow.

Jesus – I am that person because I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

The Way – Common/Familiar language to God’s people. The Way – Ways of God and path back to him. 

-Deut. 5 33 You shall walk in all the way that the Lord your God has commanded you, that you may live, and that it may go well with you, and that you may live long in the land that you shall possess. 

-Isa. 30:21 And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left. 

-Ps. 25:4 Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. -Ps. 86:11 Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name.

-In the beginning, in the Garden of Eden – God’s good ways were clear – Life. But we rejected his way and chose our own way.

-The Law – Clear Path – Righteousness. We couldn’t follow it. 

-Promised Land – New starts. Opportunities.

-Leaders

All failed. Because…Impossible. Our way back to God was blocked – Sin. Hearts. No way back to the God of life on our own. Death

Asking someone for directions in KL. Surely to get them wrong. Waze – Wrong. But what if someone says, I’ll go with you to show you. I am the genius behind all the madness. Escort. Just follow me. That’s what Jesus does. Jesus – I am the Way to God. Because I have loved God perfectly, have kept all his commands/ways, and have never veered away from him. I know the way. Access. And I can take you there.

The Truth – Important – Not all ways are true. Lots of people throughout history who claimed to be god or from god and have lied about their identity and their works for selfish gain – power, fame, money. 

Someone in a conversation – “I’m telling you the truth” – Discern. Truthfulness based on the credibility/character of the person. Good litmus test – What does the person have to gain?

Jesus – I had it all but I gave it all up for you. My character is true. Pure. Nothing false in me. And I’m not just teaching you about things that are true. I am the truth. Straight from God the Father, the source. We’re one. Objective standard by which everything should be measured. 

John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

The Life – Imagine – Your greatest life. What would it look like? Money. Cars. Houses. Stuff. (Me-Guitars, PJ) Family. Comforts and Pleasures. Nothing wrong with those things necessarily. Jesus – It’s me.  Ps. 16:11 You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

If you have me, it doesn’t matter if you have nothing else at all, you have everything. I’m your life. But if you don’t have me, even if you have everything the world has to offer, then you have nothing at all. 

Jesus – The Creator of life, the Sustainer of life, the Giver of Abundant Life, Eternal Life. Romans 11 36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. Jesus – All in all.

AND Power over death. To raise the dead to life. For himself. AND to work that power in your life. To raise you from the dead. To give life and restore all that is broken.

Jesus – The way to God that is true and leads to life.

So far, so good. Everything is nice. Nothing too controversial on the surface until he finishes his statement with: No one comes to the Father except through me.

Incredibly exclusive claim. Explain – No other way – Meaning – All other ways are dead ends, lies, and lead to death. All other religions. All other teachings. All other perspectives. It doesn’t matter how devoutly you follow the religion if it is false. Doesn’t matter how good you think you are or how hard you try. Or what culture says, your family/ethnic group mostly follows. Or how good it makes you feel. 

Some – All ways lead to the same place. No. Confusion about what all the different religions are actually saying or laziness to understand them. Are not mutually compatible. Jesus only and nothing else.

Jesus – I did not come to teach you a way – not a even a better way, a truth – one of many, a life – a way to live. I came to be and I AM the ONLY Way, Truth, and life. There is no other way to God except through me. For all people. Period. Full stop. No caveats or exceptions.

Peter – Clarity – Jn. 6 68 … “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, 69 and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”

Then…

8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.

Give us the proof. Give us certainty that all this is true.

Jesus’ Identity (Way, Truth, Life – Father) verified by his…

Jesus’ Words – From the Father. One.

Jesus’ Works – Signs, Miracles. Yes. But primarily in his death and resurrection.

12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

Almost seems like a different conversation – But it’s not – What are we supposed to be doing until Jesus comes back? Not sitting around being fearful – isolating ourselves from the world in the safety of a Christian bubble, doing nothing or doing our own thing. 

We’re to be at work. Fruit of belief in Jesus – You will also do the works Jesus did. Part of the proof that we are Jesus’ disciples, that we believe in him, is that we will do his works. 

To be clear – Jesus saved us for these good works. But these good works don’t save us. Don’t gain us extra favor or blessing from God. His love for us is not based on anything we could ever do for him. We could never save ourselves and neither can our good works save others.

What are the works that Jesus did?

-Loved people. Compassion

-Served people – Washed feet.

-Spent time with the lost, the lowly, the poor, the outcast, with sinners

-Healed people

-Wept with people

-Discipled people

-Prayed for people

If you call yourself a Christian, a follower of Jesus, does that describe your life? Are you loving and living as he did? Are you doing the works of Jesus? If not, there’s a problem. Humbly – Some – It may be because you don’t really believe or love God. Others – You’ve lost your way. So what’s keeping you from this? Three…

Unbelief

Us – Surely I can’t. Who am I to do works like Jesus? I’m not a pastor. I didn’t go to seminary. I’m not a leader. My talents aren’t that great. And in a sense, I understand that. Has anyone cast out a legion of demons in this room? Fed thousands of people? Calmed a storm? Opened the eyes of the blind? Made the lame walk? No one? So, you’re right. You’re nobody special. And that’s not to be mean but to get you excited.

God – Nobody’s are exactly who I like to use! People who are weak and have nothing to offer. People I can fill with my power. Gifts – Leverage for him, for his work, for his glory. PJD – If dependence, God’s power, is our objective then weakness is an advantage.

(Don’t know where or how to serve? Equip Conference.)

Busyness

Us – Too busy – With my life, my ways. The world revolves around you and your job, your family, your children. You don’t have time for God or anyone else. (Two weekends ago – Love/Live your life – Lose it. Give up your life for Jesus and the gospel – Gain it.)

God – There is no greater joy. There is no more important purpose. There is no better fulfillment. There is no deeper peace. Than to love me and be part of the work in loving the world. My followers should be busy with doing the works I’m doing.

People

Us – The reason these works are hard for us often is because, let’s be honest, people can be pretty terrible. They’re mean, selfish, arrogant. They’re undeserving. You’re right!

God – So were you. And that’s exactly the point! The nature of Jesus’ grace, his love for you,  and his works towards all of us is that it’s all undeserved. None of us deserve it! Jesus loves the unlovable, gives grace to the undeserving, and mercy instead paying us back with what we deserve. 

And what Jesus is saying is, you also are going to do these works of love and service and ministry to people who are totally undeserving. Because you understand how incredibly God has loved you…

Mt. 18 – Parable of the Unforgiving Servant – Forgiveness but applies even more broadly. – If you’re not doing the works of Jesus for others as the overflow and response to what he’s done for you, not out of obligation, but love – It shows you don’t understand God’s gracious love for you. Jesus – Whoever believes in me will also do the works I do.

Listen, we can never just force ourselves to love people enough. There will always be a human limit. But if you’ve experienced and understand and delight in God’s love, your grace will abound.

Lastly – Jesus’ work – Came to seek and save the lost. M work. – Greatest and primary work of Jesus – To draw all nations to himself. And he was willing to give up his life for it. Great Commission – Our task – Go and make disciples of all nations. If we are going to be faithful to Jesus, we must be about this work – making and multiplying disciples and planting churches to advance Christ’s kingdom in KL the nations. Not just the pastors and staff. All of us. Together.

Church – Send people to the mission field, and to plant churches. Give our resources. There’s nothing off limits if it’s within our power and ability. We will do whatever it takes to reach all peoples – even if it means we have sacrifice. Because it’s not about us. – Jesus’ glory. His kingdom.

Jesus – You’re going to do these works like I did. (Crazy) AND – Greater works. Greater? What?! How?!

Jesus stayed primarily in one region. Limited to one place. When Jesus left his throne in heaven to take on flesh and become one of us, he emptied himself (kenosis), he gave up some of his access to his Godness, though still fully being God. So he got hungry, he got tired, and he was limited by his humanity. So he couldn’t be at work when he was sleeping or in multiple places at the same time.

Not greater in quality, necessarily. Though a lot of the works Jesus did, we also should expect to do – prayer. But greater in quantity and scope. All of his followers all around the world engaging in his mission work, advancing his kingdom on all fronts.

Whatever you ask…Anything you ask. What does that mean? Because I’ve asked God for a lot of things in my life, and I feel like a lot of times, the answers have been a big fat NO. And thank God!

NOT a genie. To serve you at your command, to dispense whatever “blessing” your heart desires. David Mathis – This is the heart of prayer – not getting things from God, but getting God.

Key – That my Father may be glorified AND In my name. According to his plans. According to his ways. That brings him glory. Test – Does it serve me or does it serve God? How do I ask/pray this way?

2Cor1 – All of God’s promises are Yes and Amen in Jesus. The most powerful and effective prayers are ones based on God’s promises. – They are always, YES! Promises – Presence. Power. Salvation. Sanctification. (Church, Nations, Glory)

2Thess1 11 To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling (who?) and may fulfill every resolve for good (who?) and every work of faith by his power, (whose power?) 12 so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace (whose grace?) of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Doesn’t that make you want to ask and attempt big things for God and expect big things from him. We’re not going to play it safe and be content. 

All of this is awesome work is going to happen BECAUSE Jesus is about to leave. That’s Jesus’ strategy. Because there is something better than having Jesus next to you, doing ministry by your side. Have to come back next week for the answer, part 2. (The power – Holy Spirit.)

To be the Way, Truth, and Life to the Father – Jesus had to pay the ultimate cost. If there was another way…But there wasn’t. Jesus was already with the Father – In perfect love, and union, and relationship with him. It’s what we once had, but walked away from – We chose our own way over God’s. Death. 

But so we could be brought back to life, Jesus traded places with us. Jesus got what we deserved – death on a cross for our sins – while we got what he deserved – a way back to God, perfect righteousness from following God’s ways perfectly and so the right to become sons and daughters of God. 

The gospel is radically different from all other religions. Do vs Done. God did for us what we could not do for ourselves.

Jesus is both the means and the end. He is the Way, and the Truth, and the Life for salvation. And for all of life. We don’t just move past Jesus and grow beyond. No. It’s Jesus the Way, the Truth, and Life for all of my life.

Jesus didn’t save us by his life death and resurrection so we could live life as we want afterwards. In our lives daily, moment by moment, we have to be asking – God, what is your way of truth that leads to life?

And living like Jesus lived and doing the works that he did, and even greater works, through his power, this is the way of truth that gives us life and brings life to those who don’t know him yet. Through you.

Jesus is the Way and the Truth and the Life for eternal life and for everyday life. The fruit of believing this – we do his works.

Our confidence, the basis for our belief, why – Romans 8:32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? The end is secure for us with the most precious life and blood of Jesus, so we can believe even in the middle, until we get there to heaven, God’s got us. So we can trust and confidently be about his work.

Prov. 14 12 There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. X: Micah scootering ahead. 1. Doesn’t know where he’s going. 2. He doesn’t know how to avoid danger. He needs to trust me and follow me – I know the way. I know what’s best/safe. Which means he can’t be out in front. He has to be behind me. With his eyes on me. Not going his own way.

That is what Jesus has done for you through his life, death, and resurrection. Who he is – Way, Truth, Life. Invites you to follow him.